Commenting on the Households below average income statistical data published today by the Department for Work and Pensions, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“Today’s figures show how the most vulnerable in our communities are repeatedly being let down. It is a stain on our society that 4.5 million children are growing up in poverty – the highest since records began. This follows yesterday’s devastating welfare cuts, which will push a further 50,000 children into poverty according to the government’s own account. This Labour government is on track to oversee child poverty rates soar.
“Our members see the reality of these numbers. In schools across the country, staff are increasingly carrying the responsibilities of the state. We have support staff washing pupils’ clothes, teachers feeding pupils from their own pockets, school leaders undertaking social work. This is not sustainable and should not be necessary in such a wealthy country.
“We welcome the government’s commitment to publishing a Child Poverty Strategy, for which we have submitted recommendations. To make any headway in reducing poverty, the two-child limit and benefit cap must be scrapped. The government should make sure every child has the best start in life and invest in the next generation with free school meals for all, so that no child is left behind.”
Editor’s Note
Households below average income (HBAI) statistics
New child poverty stats for 2023/24 (and last year’s 2022/23):
4.5 million children in poverty (4.3 m)
31 per cent of children (30 per cent)